Lobster abstract

A container system for packing live lobsters and other crustaceans
has two sidewall components, and optional intermediate wall components,
with mating faces formed with uniformly spaced vertical pockets.
There may be a separable bottom component as well. The components
may be separately molded for interchangeable fit, or cut out from
a common core molding as a matched set. Together the y form an open
top box, with pockets aligned to form open top cells for holding
lobsters, tail first. A top is used to contain the live lobsters
under a cooling gel pack or layer of ice. The closed box may be
further enclosed in a sleeve and liner for additional security and
protection against leakage. The box can be opened one component
at a time, exposing only one layer of lobsters at a time, permitting
easy inspection and removal of each lobster.

Lobster claims

I claim:

1. A packing box for lobsters and other crustaceans, comprising
at least two side walls, each with a vertical mating face and a
top mating face, each said vertical mating face formed with at least
one vertically elongate open top pocket, said two side wall components
being removably connectable at said vertical mating faces into an
open top box with opposing said pockets aligned in pairs forming
open top vertical cells for said lobsters and other crustaceans.

2. A packing box for lobsters according to claim 1 further comprising:
at least one cell partition wall with two opposing said vertical
mating faces, each said vertical mating face likewise formed with
at least one said vertically elongate open top pocket, each said
side wall component being connectable to at least one said mating
face of said cell partition wall.

3. A packing box for lobsters according to claim 1 further comprising
a top, said top removably closable over the top mating face of said
open top box.

4. A packing box for lobsters according to claim 1 said at least
one pocket being six pockets uniformly spaced along said mating
face.

5. A packing box for lobsters according to claim 1 said vertical
mating faces being configured with a mating channel and flange structure
extending along the sides and bottom thereof.

6. A packing box for lobsters according to claim 1 said box fabricated
of molded polystyrene.

7. A method for making a packing box for lobsters and other crustaceans,
comprising the steps of forming a box with sides and bottom and
an integral webwork of partitions forming at least one open top
vertical cell, cutting said box along a vertical cut line into at
least two side wall parts where each said part contains at least
one vertical pocket portion of said at least one said vertical cell,
and removably binding said at least two parts together at said vertical
cut line such at said parts may be later separated.

8. A method for making a packing box for lobsters according to
claim 7 said at least one vertical cell being an array of vertical
cells.

9. A method for making a packing box for lobsters according to
claim 8 said at least two wall parts being two sidewalls and at
least one cell partition wall part.

10. A method for making a packing box for lobsters according to
claim 9 said at least one cell partition wall part being three
cell partition wall parts.

11. A method for making a packing box for lobsters, according to
claim 8 said steps including the step of cutting a bottom part
off said box along a horizontal cut line.

12. A method for making a packing box for lobsters, according to
claim 7 said packing box being a foam box, said steps of cutting
being hot wire sawing.

13. A packing container system for lobsters and other crustaceans,
comprising an open top box containing an array of open top vertical
cells and a matching box top, said box and said top being of molded
foam construction, said box consisting of two side wall parts and
at least one partition wall part cut along vertical cut lines from
a common molded foam component so as to expose vertical mating faces,
each said vertical mating face having at least one vertically elongate
open pocket, said pocket being a portion of a said open top vertical
cell divided by said vertical cut line, said parts being removably
connectable at said vertical mating faces with said pockets aligned
as said open top vertical cells, said top being removably closable
on said box.

14. A packing container system for lobsters according to claim
13 further comprising a bottom part cut along a horizontal line
from said common molded foam component so as to expose a horizontal
mating face on said bottom part and a bottom side mating face on
each of said wall parts.

15. A packing container system for lobsters according to claim
14 said bottom part comprising bottom surfaces of said cells.

16. A packing container system for lobsters according to claim
13 comprising a sealing flange around the topside perimeter of
said box and a mating sealing flanged around the underside perimeter
of said top.

17. A packing container system for lobsters according to claim
13 said array of open top vertical cells being a four by six array.

18. A packing box for lobsters according to claim 13 said wall
parts having six said pockets uniformly distributed along each said
vertical mating face.

19. A packing container system according to claim 13 said box
and said top constructed of molded polystyrene.

20. A packing container system according to claim 13 further comprising
an outer plastic sealing bag and a corrugated box enclosure for
said box and top.

Lobster description

[0002] This invention relates to containers for packing live lobsters
and crustaceans for shipment by carriers of all types; and in particular
to an insulated and compartmentalized container system for the orderly
packing, shipping, and unpacking of live lobsters.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] For many years there has been a large demand for live lobsters
at areas distant from where the lobsters are harvested. To satisfy
this demand, lobsters have been packaged and shipped great distances,
including shipment by air transport.

[0004] Initially lobsters were shipped in wooden crates and boxes.
This was changed to a less expensive means such as wax boxes or
curtain coated boxes. Eventually, boxes were produced of foamed
polymers such as polystyrene (Styrofoam.TM.) or similar low density,
injection molded plastic. At first, the foam plastic was used as
an outer wall or box, for its insulation value. Lobster are a live
product, and must be kept continuously cool from the time caught,
through initial processing, packing, shipment, retail handling and
sale, to final delivery to the consumer's kitchen. Mortality of
the lobsters while in the channel of distribution results from various
problems, most of which can be generally labeled as heat damage.
The need for effective insulation, in part, led to the development
of a box produced and distributed under the trademark, Cloud Pack.TM.,
a mark and product with which this applicant is not associated.

[0005] The Cloud Pack.TM. box is a commercial embodiment of the
design disclosed in LaRosa's U.S. Pat. No. 5218923 issued Jun.
15 1993. It is a foam plastic packing system in the form of a three
piece box; the preformed pieces consisting of a top section or cover,
an intermediate section with an open top and bottom and two longitudinal
partitions, and a lower section with vertically oriented, open top
compartments. The three sections are all made of Styrofoam, and
interlock with tongue and groove joints.

[0006] The top section dimensions are 141/2 inches wide, 25 inches
long and 3 inches high, with a 1 inch Styrofoam wall and top thickness,
providing about two inches of depth within the cover section. The
intermediate section dimensions are 141/2 wide, 25 inches long,
and 6 inches high with the two partitions about one quarter inch
thick running from end to end, and with about a one and one half
inch wall thickness around the sides. The bottom section dimensions
are 141/2 inches wide, 25 inches long, five inches high, with individual,
open top, vertically oriented, square cells that are about four
inches deep, suitable for tail first stuffing with a lobster of
suitable size. The number of cells varies between box models. There
are three types a 32 cell box, a 28 cell box, and a 21 cell box
known to the applicant, the numbers generally varying inversely
with the size of the lobster for which the box is intended.

[0007] The Cloud Pack requires an aluminum jig fitting over the
cell network of the bottom section, as a further upward extending
partition used to keep the lobsters claws separated during the packing
process. If the jig is lifted prematurely, even a small amount,
lobster parts may spill underneath it and it will likely be impossible
to reposition the jig to complete the fill. So the box must be emptied,
the jig repositioned, and the box refilled again. When filled and
closed, the box is banded for shipment. Some freight carriers will
accept the box in this fashion; others require or prefer that it
be enclosed and sealed in an outer shipping carton, to reduce the
likelihood of leakage in transit.

[0008] When unloading the box at the retail end, after removal
of the cover, the refrigerator ice pack or ice and wet paper, and
the intermediate section of the box, the lobster's claws and head
and upper body are exposed. The user must carefully lift each lobster
from its individual compartment. If not done carefully claws can
break away, in part because even under the most careful removal
technique, the sharp edges of the lobster's tail may rake, rip and
hold onto the foam cell partition, resisting the tug on its claws.
Even when successful, the raking action is likely to cause small
beads to break away and fragment from the compartment partitioning
structure. This foam debris clings to the lobster, causing a further
problem when the lobster is put into a tank or container containing
a filtration system. The foam beads float on top of the water and
tend to clog filters and pumps.

[0009] The first Styrofoam boxes, intended mainly for their insulation
value, were open boxes into which the lobster were stacked horizontally,
as they had been in the earlier wooden crates. Lobsters were laid
down one on top of the other by various standard weights. Examples
are listed below:

[0010] The TP stands for Tech Pak which is a manufacturer of Styrofoam
boxes. There are other companies that make or distribute these boxes
using the initials of their company as the first two letters of
the box. An example is Arjay National, with its AN30 and AN40 boxes.

[0011] Other companies make other foam boxes with various shapes
according to their weight capacity, as an inner box component to
their lobster packing system. All generally use the foam box as
an insulating shell providing approximately 3/4 inch wall thickness
for insulation value. Once filled and closed, the foam boxes are
inserted into a corrugated cardboard carton as the outer layer of
the shipping container.

[0013] Styrofoam boxes created a better packaging for the lobsters
and other crustaceans. However, mortality problems were still a
significant factor so alternative solutions were tried, cell packing
probably being the most significant. Inside the various boxes, there
is a celled partition system of squares, somewhat like a grid or
honeycomb, commonly a set of crisscrossing cardboard partitions
that is inserted into the box prior to filling. The partitioning
system gives each lobster its own individual compartment or cell,
preventing the crushing of lobsters by their collective weight and
by jostling while in transit, which causes damage and ultimately
some degree of mortality.

[0014] This new partition packing arrangement has basically taken
over the packaging industry in specific areas such as loose freight
or individual store deliveries. It is mostly used to provide the
customer or end user a high quality live lobster. Further steps
were taken to make an even stronger sturdier box or series of boxes
known as the HDS series. Two of which are known as the HDS5 and
HDS6. The HDS5 is used mostly as a plain Styrofoam box shipped to
Japan. Basically it is the same as a TP40 except, slight different
shape. Most importantly a thicker foam wall providing more insulation
value is still used with a cell partition as is the HDS6.The HDS6
being a slightly taller box used with a thick outer corrugated and
a 24 cell partition.

[0015] Although these foam box systems provide more insulation
value that the older wooden crates, they still are not the ultimate
solution to the packing problems a lobster company faces. Styrofoam
boxes with cell partition seem to be the way to ship a better quality
lobster with lower mortality, but they need to be incorporated together
to provide even better shipping and greater ease of packing and
unpacking of the lobsters, and elimination of the foam debris. These
reasons will make the design of a new box more desirable for reasons
of labor costs, mortality, ease of manufacturing and better handling
at the retail end. Incorporating cell partitions and other benefits
of injection molded components into a single box system is what
the following design is all about.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] It is an object of the invention to provide a box for packing,
transporting, and unpacking live lobsters and other crustaceans,
consisting of at least two sidewall components, each with a mating
face, each mating face formed with at least one elongate, open top
pocket. The two sidewall components are removably connectable at
their mating faces to form an open top box, with the pockets aligned
so as to form open top cells into which lobsters can be inserted
tail first. There is also a top component which is removably connectable
to the topside of the box formed by the joining of the two sidewall
components face to face.

[0017] It is a further object of the invention to provide for the
box at least one cell partition component with two mating faces,
where each mating face is likewise formed with at least one elongate
open top pocket. Each of the sidewall components is connectable
to at least one mating face of the cell partition so as to have
the assemblage of all components form an open top box. The top component
in this case would be of a suitable size to fit the open top box
with its cell partition layer between the sidewall components.

[0018] It is a yet further object of the invention that the at
least one pocket on a mating face be four pockets uniformly distributed
on the mating face.

[0019] It is another object of the invention that it be deconstructable
during unloading so as to first remove the top, set the box on end,
and then remove the upper sidewall so as to split open a first row
of cells for inspection and removal of the first row lobsters, and
then to remove subsequent layers of the box, exposing subsequent
rows of lobsters for inspection and removal.

[0020] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following
detailed description, wherein we have shown and described only a
preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration
of the best mode contemplated by us on carrying out our invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a preferred embodiment
of the invention, utilizing reversible, common sidewalls, three
common cell partitions, and a top, to form a 16 cell packing box.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a split, top view of a pair of reversible sidewalls
of the invention, illustrating the alternating left side, right
side tongue and groove feature that permits use of a common sidewall.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a packing box sitting on
one end, from which the top and the other sidewall have been removed,
illustrating the unpacking order for exposing one row at a time
for easy removal.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a top view of another preferred embodiment box
of the invention, illustrating a four by six array of cells.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a lengthwise cross section view of the box of
FIG. 4 together with a matching top.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a spanwise cross section view of the box of FIG.
4 together with the matching top of FIG. 5.

[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective, exploded view of the box of FIG.
4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] Referring generally to FIGS. 1-3 a preferred embodiment
of the invention has a foam packing box component, consisting of
eight interlocking pieces which all join together in a tongue and
groove fashion. The assembled box is 22 inches wide, 153/4 inches
long, and 14 inches high, and contains cells for 24 lobsters. The
pieces are fabricated of polystyrene or other low density, injection
molded plastic foam. The design incorporates a honeycomb-like web
of cell partitions, which when the box is assembled, gives each
lobster its own molded foam sleeve.

[0029] The eight pieces of the preferred embodiment consist of
only three unique components: a side wall, of which two are used;
a cell partition, of which five are used; and

[0030] a top, of which one is used. These components are illustrated
in FIG. 1 as side wall 10 cell partition 20 and top 30. The FIG.
1 embodiment uses only three cell partitions 20 but the principle
is the same. A side wall is a unitary block of injection molded
plastic four inches wide and 153/4 inches long, with 4 half moon
circles or semi-circular cylindrical sections formed 111/2 inches
deep, open at the top and on a common face and narrowing slightly
as they go down. The FIG. 3 embodiment uses only three cells 50
per row, but the principle is the same.

[0031] Illustrating the basic characteristics and flexibility inherent
in the component design, two of the side walls can be joined directly
together, face to face, the half cells of each face together forming
four circular cells 50 of about 3 inches top diameter, tapering
to about 21/2 inches diameter at the bottom, so as to have a 4 cell
box eight inches wide and 153/4 inches long. FIG. 2 illustrates
the coupling of a pair of side walls 10 face to face.

[0032] There is about one and one half inch of insulating foam
underneath and on all four sides of the network of cells. To complete
this four cell embodiment would require an eight by 153/4 inch formed
top, not part of the three component embodiment described but fully
within the scope of the invention as the third or a fourth component,
enabling the assembly of a four cell box when desired.

[0033] The cell partition component of the preferred embodiment
is a unitary block of injection molded material four inches wide
and 153/4 inches long, with mating tongue and groove features 40
on the side and bottom of the two 153/4 inch faces for mating to
the side walls, each face further formed for cells with the same
four semi-circular cylinder openings running down on each side about
111/2 inches deep, open on the top side with about a 3 inch diameter,
open in cross section on the face of the block, and tapering somewhat
to about a 21/2 inch diameter as you go from top to the closed bottom
end. The spacing and partition thickness between the cells is the
same as for the side walls; the insulating foam thickness at the
four inch walls is about one and one half inch, corresponding to
that of the side walls.

[0034] The tongue and groove interlocking detail 40 of the preferred
embodiment, evident in the details of FIG. 2 is configured to permit
either face of a cell partition component to mate with either face
of another cell partition component or to the mating face of a side
wall component. The common mating face scheme provides that the
U shaped perimeter of the mating face is divided left and right
so as to have one side configured with a tongue or male structure
of the tongue and groove scheme, and the other side configured with
the mating groove structure of the tongue and groove scheme. Either
face of a cell partition component will present the same orientation
of alternating tongue and groove to a side wall component or to
another cell partition component.

[0035] One or more of the cell partitions, this particular embodiment
described as using five partitions, can be assembled between pairs
of side walls, forming boxes with increments of four cells, or such
number as is desirable, up to the weight and size limit of the design.
The top of the box for the preferred 24 cell embodiment, is one
and one half inches thick, 28 inches long, and 17 inches wide, with
a 21/2 inch height or lip. After the open, 24 cell box has been
assembled and filled with lobsters, and covered with ice, the top
component is applied with a tongue and groove feature 40 to enclose
the lobsters within the assemblage of side walls and cell partitions,
creating a full, closed, foam lobster packing box. The foam box
is then inserted endwise into a thin corrugated cardboard sleeve
to keep the components locked together. The corrugated sleeve box
is configured with a plastic liner, which is sealed after the foam
box is in place, to avoid leakage.

[0036] It will be apparent that the lined sleeve and the foam top
are unique to each size of box that is desired. While a manufacturer
or distributor may produce and inventory a wide range of assembled
box sizes, users will likely select one or two sizes to inventory
at the local level.

[0037] As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art,
the width of the box, and the number and size of the cells in a
row, and the total number of rows can be increased or decreased
from that of the preferred embodiment. However, a limitation of
the common mating face approach of the preferred embodiment is that
the pattern of cells in system defined by one row of cells per reversible
component, is limited to a rectangular grid-like pattern. This is
so that the reversing of a cell partitioning section will retain
the same positioning of the cell pockets for proper match up to
the cell pockets of the mating component. An alternative scheme
provides for unidirectional tongue and groove mating components,
and two different, alternating, cell partitions so that a staggered
row, more closely packed cell pattern can be achieved. This and
many other variations in the cell distribution, partition layers
and mating configurations, are within the scope of the invention.

[0038] The basic components with various size tops and sleeves
can be inventoried and assembled for any size box within the scope
of the design, in increments of four cells or whatever standardized
box width and cell row count is selected as the basis for all the
components. However, the invention is novel and important in a number
of additional ways. You need no tools to pack the box, as it is
normally supplied to the lobster processor fully assembled, and
has no separate cell partition structure that must be installed
or that might become misaligned or lifted during packing. The cell
partitioning is integral to the box. This makes the box lighter,
cheaper, and with the maximum insulating value compared to other
shell-type boxes with partition inserts.

[0039] But the most desirable reason for using the invention is
the way it unpacks. After taking off the cardboard sleeve and liner,
then removing the cover and the gel pack or ice and wet paper, the
box is turned up on one side wall and the box can be disassembled
one layer at a time, fully exposing each row of four lobsters, each
laid out it its own semi-circular cell pocket or trough for easy
inspection and removal. Each lobster is easily viewed and removed
from its pocket without risk of tearing off its claws or raking
foam debris off the cell wall as in the prior art case. FIG. 3 illustrates
this principle.

[0040] Referring now to FIGS. 4-7 another preferred embodiment
of the invention has a foam packing box component, cast as one piece,
and hot wire sawn lengthwise into four interlocking partition pieces
and a bottom member, which are all kept mated together at their
sawn joints. The assembled box is about 22 inches wide, 15 inches
long, and 14 inches high, and contains rectangular cells for 24
lobsters. The cover is formed separately, with provision for tongue
and groove mating to the box component. The pieces are fabricated
of polystyrene or other low density, injection molded plastic foam.
The design incorporates a honeycomb-like web of cell partitions,
which when the box is assembled, gives each lobster its own molded
foam sleeve.

[0041] The six pieces of this preferred embodiment consist of two
side walls; two partitions; and a bottom, which are formed in matched
sets from a common original one piece box, and the top member 31
an interchangeable piece similar to top 30 of the prior embodiment
FIG. 1. The sawn components are illustrated in FIG. 7 as side walls
41 and 45 cell partitions 42-44 and bottom 46. Referring to FIGS.
4-6 the box starts out as a unitary block of injection molded plastic,
with a four by six array of 24 square tubular, open top cells extending
about 111/2 inches deep, with generously rounded corners, in which
the lobsters are eventually stowed for shipment. The long wall partitions
47 spanning six rolls of cells, are of uniform height. The short
wall partitions 48 extending across four rows of cells, have about
a three inch deep notch from the top down, providing extra finger
or tool room for inserting and extracting lobsters.

[0042] The bottom 46 is sawn off as a complete panel along horizontal
cut line 50. side walls and partitions 41-45 are wire sawn along
generally vertical cutting line 51-54.

[0043] Vertical cutting lines 51-54 are curved into slight arcs,
providing a keyed aspect to the cut line that facilitates alignment
and avoids inadvertent misassemble. Considered separately, the sawn
components are readily identifiable as analogous to the components
of the first embodiment, with the sidewalls and cell partitions
having respective open side cell pockets which when the parts are
mated, form the open top cells described.

[0044] It should be noted that the sawn separate bottom panel of
the second embodiment is distinguished from the first embodiment
wall panels which have cell bottoms integral to the cell pockets
of the cell partition configuration, but these two features are
interchangeable at the design stage, and both are within the scope
of the invention. In other words, a variation of the first embodiment
might have a formed bottom component, and a variation of the second
embodiment might not require a sawn bottom component.

[0045] These parts are then bound together tightly at their respective
sawn joints by a plastic sheath into an integral box container.
The partition thickness is uniformly the same between cells. The
sawn joints have a non-slip interface characteristic that inhibits
any displacement of interior short wall sections within the box
as it is being filled, and retains its full insulating and protective
buffer function.

[0046] While the practice is that the sawn component parts be retained
as a matched set in the completed box, the precision with which
these parts are produced enables them to be interchanged with the
like parts from other boxes off the same production line. Hot wire
sawing is a commonly used technique for reducing and shaping larger
blocks of foam materials into desired sizes and shapes, but any
technique of cutting or sawing one block of material into two useable
pieces so as to produce a uniform joint line by which the two parts
can be easily mated, is within the scope of the invention.

[0047] After the open, 24 cell box has been assembled and filled
with lobsters, and covered with ice, the top component is applied
with a tongue and groove feature to enclose the lobsters within
the assemblage of side walls and cell partitions, creating a full,
closed, foam lobster packing box. The foam box is then inserted
endwise into a thin corrugated cardboard sleeve to keep the components
locked together. The corrugated sleeve box is configured with a
plastic liner, which is sealed after the foam box is in place, to
avoid leakage.

[0048] As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art,
the width of the box, and the number and size of the cells in a
row, and the total number of rows can be increased or decreased
from that of the preferred embodiment. The limitation of the prior
embodiment to a rectangular grid of cells is not applicable here,
where the sawn components are retained in their original configuration
for the filling and shipping phases of box use. For example, there
could be a box with a single roll of cells, split once by a sawn
joint so as to be openable for presentation and selection of the
lobsters at the destination or place of retail distribution. Such
a box might have only two side wall panels. And whether there be
one or more rolls of cells, the bottom need not be sawn for separation
in embodiments where the wall members are sawn all the way through
the bottom layer of the box.

[0049] As in the prior embodiment, no tools are needed to pack
the box of this embodiment, as it is normally supplied to the lobster
processor fully assembled, and has no separate cell partition structure
that must be installed or that might become misaligned or lifted
during packing. The cell partitioning is integral to the box. This
makes the box lighter, cheaper, and with the maximum insulating
value compared to other shell-type boxes with partition inserts.

[0050] But again, in this and all embodiments, the most desirable
reason for using the invention is the way it unpacks. After taking
off the cardboard sleeve and liner, then removing the cover and
the gel pack or ice and wet paper, the box is turned up on one side
wall and the box can be disassembled one layer at a time, fully
exposing each row of six lobsters, each laid out it its own cell
pocket or trough for easy inspection and removal. Each lobster is
easily viewed and removed from its pocket without risk of tearing
off its claws or raking foam debris off the cell wall as in the
prior art case.

[0051] While the preferred embodiments presented are of molded
foam construction, preferably polystyrene, any other materials with
adequate structural and insulating qualities can be used, and other
methods than molding and cutting or hot wire sawing, including machining
with hard tools or lasers or the light or combinations thereof.

[0052] In summary, the invention provides a better packing system
for lobsters that permits the production of a range of box sizes
utilizing common principle components, a box with deeper cells that
is more easily loaded, a more substantial partition structure between
cells, and a row by row exposure of cells at unloading that splits
the cell lengthwise for horizontal display of the lobster and easy
removal without damage to the lobster and without the raking off
and clinging of cell wall material to the lobster.

[0053] Other examples of the invention will be readily apparent
to those skilled in the art. for example, there is a packing box
for lobsters and other crustaceans, consisting of at least two side
walls, each with a vertical mating face and a top mating face, each
vertical mating face formed with at least one vertically elongate
open top pocket. The two side wall components are removably connectable
at the vertical mating face into an open top box with opposing pockets
aligned in pairs forming open top vertical cells for the lobsters
or other crustaceans.

[0054] There may be at least one cell partition wall with two opposing
vertical mating faces, where each vertical mating face is likewise
formed with at least one vertically elongate open top pocket, and
each side wall component is connectable to one of the mating faces
of the cell partition wall.

[0055] Of course, there will be a top that is removably closable
over the top mating face of the box. There may be six pockets, or
more, or less, uniformly spaced along each mating face. Also, the
vertical mating faces may be configured with a mating channel and
flange structure or configuration that extends along the sides and
bottom of each wall section so as to better align and seal them.
And the box may be fabricated of molded polystyrene.

[0056] As another example of the invention, there is a method for
making a packing box for lobsters and other crustaceans, that includes
the steps of forming a box with sides and a bottom and an integral
webwork of partitions that form a open top vertical cells, cutting
the box along a vertical cut line extending through the box from
one side to the other, into at least two wall parts where each part
contains at least one vertical pocket portion of at least one of
the vertical cells, and removably binding the parts together at
the vertical cut line such that parts may be later separated to
expose one row of lobsters or other crustaceans at a time for easy
inspection and removal.

[0057] There may be an array of vertical cells in the box. There
may be two side or outer wall parts and at least one cell partition
wall part, and preferably three cell partition wall parts.

[0058] The method may include a step for cutting a bottom panel
or part off the box along a horizontal cut line. The bottom panel
may be cut so as to contain the bottom portion or surface of the
vertical cells, or it might be cut lower for structural or other
reasons relating to the geometry of the design. Of course, the box
may be a foam box, and the cutting may be done by hot wire sawing
techniques.

[0059] As yet another example of the invention, there is a packing
container system for lobsters and other crustaceans, that includes
an open top box containing an array of open top vertical cells and
a matching box top, where the box and top are of molded foam construction.
The box consists of two side wall parts and at least one partition
wall part cut along vertical cut lines from a common molded foam
component so as to expose vertical mating faces on each part. Each
vertical mating face has at least one vertically elongate open pocket,
where the pocket is a portion of an open top vertical cell as it
was divided by one of the vertical cut lines. The box parts are
removably connectable at their vertical mating faces with their
pockets aligned as to reform the open top vertical cells. And the
top is removably closable on the box.

[0060] There may be a bottom part cut along a horizontal line from
the common molded foam component so as to expose a horizontal mating
face on the bottom part and an opposing bottom side mating face
on each of the wall parts. The bottom part may contain the bottom
surfaces of the cells, depending on where the horizontal cut line
is drawn.

[0061] There may be a sealing flange around the topside perimeter
of the box and a mating sealing flange around the underside perimeter
of the top. The system may also include an outer plastic sealing
bag and a corrugated box enclosure to fully secure the box.

[0062] Other embodiments and variations within the scope of the
specification, figures and claims that follow, will be readily apparent
to those skilled in the art.